Barrack Heights vs Lake Illawarra
The verdict
Barrack Heights is more affordable, with a median house price of $882K versus $893K in Lake Illawarra. Barrack Heights rates higher for liveability (82 vs 70). Lake Illawarra has a shorter estimated CBD commute (212 vs 217 min). On the separate residential safety score, Barrack Heights rates higher (50 vs 45/100 in Lake Illawarra).
Scores
| Barrack Heights | Lake Illawarra | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 60 | 56 |
| Transport | 60 | 60 |
| Education | 34 | 35 |
| Liveability | 82 | 70 |
Overall is based on transport, liveability & education — the metrics available at consistent quality nationwide. Residential safety is compared separately below.
Demographics
| Barrack Heights | Lake Illawarra | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,003 | 3,288 |
| Median age | 41 | 43 |
| Median household income (wk) | $1,340 | $1,069 |
| Bachelor degree or higher | 17.0% | 18.2% |
| Born in Australia | 75.6% | 73.5% |
| Avg household size | 2.5 | 2.1 |
Growth: Barrack Heights Stable · Lake Illawarra Stable
Property
| Barrack Heights | Lake Illawarra | |
|---|---|---|
| Median house price | $882K | $893K |
| Median unit price | $696K | $746K |
| House price YoY | 5.7% | 14.1% |
| Median rent — house (wk) | $720 | $720 |
| Rental yield (house) | 4.1% | 3.6% |
| Days on market (house) | 47 | 47 |
Median price history
Safety
| Barrack Heights | Lake Illawarra | |
|---|---|---|
| Residential safety score | 50 | 45 |
| Break & enter dwelling /100k | 200 | 274 |
| Motor vehicle theft /100k | 200 | 304 |
| Domestic assault /100k | 683 | 608 |
| Total incidents /100k (all) | 5,231 | 7,786 |
Total incidents over time
Schools
| Barrack Heights | Lake Illawarra | |
|---|---|---|
| Total schools | 3 | 2 |
| Government | 2 | 2 |
| Independent | 1 | 0 |
| Average ICSEA | 921 | 924 |
See the full school list on each profile: Barrack Heights · Lake Illawarra
Transport
| Barrack Heights | Lake Illawarra | |
|---|---|---|
| Transport score | 60 | 60 |
| Train stations | 0 | 0 |
| Bus stops | 49 | 36 |
| Light rail stops | 0 | 0 |
| Ferry wharves | 0 | 0 |
| CBD commute (min) | 217 | 212 |
| Nearest train station (km) | 3.2 km | 5.0 km |
Liveability
| Barrack Heights | Lake Illawarra | |
|---|---|---|
| Summer max temp | 25.0°C | 25.0°C |
| Winter max temp | 17.5°C | 17.5°C |
| Annual rainfall (mm) | 1,250 | 1,250 |
| Supermarkets | 0 | 0 |
| Cafes & restaurants | 0 | 0 |
| Parks | 10 | 6 |
| Playgrounds | 9 | 7 |
| Swimming pools | 1 | Data not available |
| Medical GPs | 1 | 0 |
| Distance to coast (km) | 1.3 km | 1.0 km |
| Distance to CBD (km) | 83.3 km | 81.0 km |
| Nearest beach (km) | 1.4 km | 3.0 km |
| Nearest hospital (km) | 1.4 km | 2.6 km |
Population & growth
| Barrack Heights | Lake Illawarra | |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2021) | 6,003 | 3,288 |
| Estimated 2025 | 6,069 | 3,324 |
| Projected 2041 | 6,476 | 3,547 |
| Annual growth rate | 0.27% | 0.27% |
Common questions
Which is safer, Barrack Heights or Lake Illawarra?
Barrack Heights has the higher residential safety score (Barrack Heights 50/100 vs Lake Illawarra 45/100).
Which is more affordable, Barrack Heights or Lake Illawarra?
Barrack Heights is more affordable, with a median house price of $882K versus $893K.
Which has better schools, Barrack Heights or Lake Illawarra?
Lake Illawarra has a higher average school ICSEA (Barrack Heights 921 vs Lake Illawarra 924; national average 1000).
Which has better public transport, Barrack Heights or Lake Illawarra?
Barrack Heights and Lake Illawarra have similar transport scores.
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